Recoil simulator for shooting gallery apparatus



S. M. HEIDE Aug. 29, 1950 RECOIL SIMULATOR FOR SHOOTING GALLERY APPARATUS Filed Dec. 9, 1948 INVENTOR. Siam/02d fiflezzfe (8M L WM Patented Aug. 29, 1950 RECOIL SIMULATOR FOR SHOOTING GALLERY APPARATUS Stanford M. Heide, Kenosha, Wis., assignor to Chicago Coin Machine 00., Chicago, 111., a corporation of Illinois Application December 9, 1948, Serial N 0. 64,389

4 Claims.

This invention relates to a game apparatus and particularly to a shooting gallery. The invention in particular aims to provide a recoil for a gun or pistol in order to simulate the recoil present in a real gun or pistol at the time of firing. The invention will be explained in connection with the drawings wherein Figure 1 is a perspective view of a shooting gallery embodying the present invention. Figure 2 is a detail on line 22 of Figure 1, certain parts being broken away.

Referring now to the drawings, cabinet I having target screen H and panel I2 is provided. Mounted on panel [2 is pistol l5 supported on pipe l6. Pipe i6 is carried by ball ii suitably mounted in ring it for universal movement in all directions. Inasmuch as such mounting means for pistols and guns are well known, a detailed description thereof is deemed to be unnecesary. It is understood, of course, that ring I8 is secured to panel l2 or any other fixed portion of the machine. Suitable pivot pins for obtaining the desired universal motion may be provided, only one being shown at I9.

Pipe it extends through ball I1 and has lower portion 2. Rigidly attached to portion 22 is scoring arm 21 carrying generally spherical actuating member 2i. Spherical actuating member 24 cooperates with suitable switching means 25 carried upon base 25. By proper arrangement of ball 24 and electric switches, scoring means may be energized when the pistol is pointed in the desired direction and discharged.

Such scoring means are old and well known and need not be described in detail. The electric switching means shown here in Figures 1 and 2 is more fully described and claimed in the copending application of Jerry C. Koci, Serial No. 64,390 filed December 9, 1948.

In accordance with this invention, portion 22 of pipe l6 has clamped thereto means for providing a recoil. This means comprises solenoid having a suitable bore within which operates plunger 3|. Plunger 3| is attached at its end to clamps 32 rigidly secured to portion 33. Plunger 3| is maintained in the position shown by spring 34 extending between suitable washer 35 on the plunger and the spool end of solenoid 30.

Suitably disposed within the pistol and controlled by the trigger of the pistol is electric switch 36. Switch 36 is normally open but may be closed momentarily when the trigger is pressed for firing purposes. A suitable trigger action is preferably provided. Switch 36 is connected to wire 37 extending down through pipe l6. Wire 36 is connected to solenoid 30 and the two are connected in circuit with a suitable source of current.

The operation of the solenoid is controlled by the trigger. Upon firing of the pistol, switch 36 will be closed and solenoid 30 energized. When solenoid 39 is energized, it will result in plunger 3| being attracted to the interior of the solenoid. While solenoid 30 will move over plunger 3| during this action, the reaction on plunger 3| will result in a momentary movement of pipe l6, which is communicated to the pistol and thus provides a recoil. Preferably switch 36 is of the type that is closed for a short instant of time during the pressing of the trigger so that solenoid winding 39 is momentarily energized and snaps back and forth during a firing operation. By proper control of the mass of winding 30, spring 35, and the intensity of solenoid energization as well as the location of the various parts, the recoil effect upon the pistol may be made as great as desired and may be made to simulate a real recoil.

As shown in the drawing, the solenoid and plunger are below the pivot of the pistol support and on the barrel side of the pistol. While the solenoid will operate in other positions relative to the pistol, the position shown is preferred.

What is claimed is:

1. In a shooting gallery, a pistol or rifle, a rod for supporting said pistol or rifle, means for securing said rod for universal movement and recoil generating means secured to said rod, said recoil generatin means comprising a solenoid having relatively movable winding and core elements. spring means for maintaining said core out of said solenoid from which position solenoid energization moves the core, means for mounting one of said relatively movable elements upon said rod and switching means controlled b the trigger for changing the solenoid condition at the time of firing whereby, when said pistol is fired, said solenoid changes its condition and produces a recoil effect.

2. The structure according to claim 1 wherein said core element is attached to said rod.

3. The structure according to claim 1 wherein said core element is attached to said rod and wherein said solenoid is normally ole-energized.

4. The structure according to claim 1 wherein said recoil generating means is mounted below the barrel of the pistol, said pistol and recoil generating means being on opposite sides of the universal mount.

STANFORD M. HEIDE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 764,367 McCullough July 5, 1904 920,029 Cummings Apr. 27, 1909 2,023,497 Trammell Dec. 10, 1935 

